Cat Rescued As Garage Destroyed By Ridge Avenue Fire

EVANSTON, IL — Firefighters extinguished a burning detached garage Wednesday evening on Ridge Avenue in Evanston. Fire crews were called to the 600 block of Ridge Avenue around 6:20 p.m. to find a two-car garage ablaze. The fire was already extending to the nearby two-and-a-half-story single-family home, according to the Evanston Fire Department.

Firefighters used multiple hose lines to direct waters onto the source of the fire and stop the flames from spreading into the home – unoccupied at the time, except for a pet cat.

The feline resident was successfully rescued.

Both fires were quickly extinguished, and the home was saved by the fire department's quick response, Division Chief Paul Polep said in a news release. Although the garage was a total loss, the main house suffered only some smoke and water damage.

Polep said firefighters upgraded the alarm to call in firefighters from neighboring towns.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, he said.